City Slicker’s Guide to Country Living


Book Description

Neighbors: Persons living in proximity to other persons. Everyone has neighbors. Neighbors-From-Hell: Neighbors who are not nice. Have you ever had Neighbors-From-Hell? Neighbors are an obvious arrangement in cities or towns. Good or bad, tidy or messy, quiet or noisy, nice or mean; there are all types. City slickers moving to the country invoke the image of space and solitude, but there will still be neighbors. The space between domiciles might be larger, but a bad, messy, or noisome neighbor can still exist. Even with a country home's space and larger area, there can still be neighbors that won't contain themselves to their own area. Once upon a time there was a young family who had a dream of owning land and operating a farm. They became land owners and cattle ranchers, building their very own dream house on their very own patch of paradise. They worked hard to assimilate to this new lifestyle in a new neighborhood. It was everything they'd hoped for, and they were so happy. Then they got neighbors. They got Neighbors-From-Hell. These bad neighbors were pushy, arrogant, and mean. Their bad attitudes, slovenly habits, and meanness aside, the neighbors would not contain themselves to their own area. They encroached. They took what was not theirs. They forced themselves into the space and lives of our heroes. These neighbors meant to build their house on their property next door to our little family. The neighbors' property had some unfortunate attributes, however, and it became clear that their property wasn't very conducive to building a home. Astonishingly, these neighbors insisted on utilizing portions of property they didn't own to construct their project. There were other solutions to the construction dilemmas these neighbors faced, but these answers would have been costly. They wanted to use our little family's land for free. They wanted to steal the property and property rights of our little family. These Neighbors-From-Hell came on over bringing their messes and problems with them, and embroiled our little family in a battle for their rights and their very lives. When our heroes stood firm on their property rights, these awful neighbors tried it anyway. When the young couple complained, the neighbors lied. When the family sought the help of the authorities, they found out the difficulties of fighting city hall when the local power came to the aid and assistance of their county crony, even in the face of proven and documented lies. The common refrain used as their excuse for lies and deceit was, "Y'all aren't from around here, are you?" This bigotry and clannish attitude was brought to full force against our little family, whose only desire was to be left alone on their own land. When the neighbors couldn't steal the part of the land they were after, they tried to take everything. Using their friends in county authority and the local judiciary, they brought the fight of our young heroes' lives. Does the young family survive? Can they win against the local establishment and seemingly insurmountable odds? What do you do when your neighbors are the Neighbors-From-Hell? What do you do when the Neighbors-From-Hell have friends in high places? What do you do when they threaten your home, your livelihood, and your family? Everyone knows fighting city hall can be a pointless fight, rarely won. But what do you do when city hall brings the fight to you? Sometimes you have to stand and fight.




Breaking


Book Description

A vacation in the Florida Keys turns suspicious when an 8-year-old child goes missing. It’s every family’s worst fear, and the story has just begun. On a sun-hazed afternoon in the Florida Keys, a child goes missing from the beach, and Dr. Mirren Fitzpatrick appeals to the world to help find her daughter. But before police are even on the scene, there are ripples of mistrust. Mirren was drinking at a bar—alone—when her youngest child went missing. Detective Rolle is sympathetic and believes Mirren's claim of innocence when she says someone must have taken Alannah, but his boss is unconvinced. As rumors swirl about Mirren’s past, a trial-by-media ensues, and she is turned from a sympathetic figure to the villain. As the international press descend on the small island community, everyone is asking the same question: what did Mirren do before eight-year-old Alannah Fitzpatrick vanished without a trace? A stunning debut from a brilliant new voice in Irish crime fiction, perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn and Lucy Atkins.




Map Link Catalog


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City Slickers


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The Final Cut


Book Description

The Final Cut is a kaleidoscope of the lives of two strangers, one 22 and the other 18. They meet per chance. They meet again, this time for keeps, and explore the joys of living an uncharted life together, unfazed by conventional social norms then or since. It’s a journey through the uncertain late forties, the penny-pinching days in the fifties, the schools of life in the early sixties and the ups and downs of living in Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi and London, cushioned by executive privileges in multi-national corporations in the seventies and eighties. Nomadic instincts resurface in the nineties. They join the ranks of backpacking hitch hikers, albeit dressed in flannels and blazers, checking into cheap lodgings in the back alleys of cities big and small in Europe, North and South America. The very ‘ unique’ insights they get into the cultures across the world, over many cups of wine in cafes and bars, from colourful ‘locals’ should make an interesting, if not fascinating, read. Back into the conventional life, the early Millennium years go in a whirl, alas a little too fast.




Gnats, Humidity and Murder


Book Description

When attorney Jack Sutton accepts a position at a small law firm in South Georgia, he and his new bride, Ruby, trade the bustle of Atlanta for sleepy Pear Valley. Jack is appointed to represent a young widow accused of murdering her older, wealthy husband. The Suttons discover that beneath the lush gardens and rolling farmlands, their new community isn’t as peaceful as it appears. Brimming with colorful characters and intriguing local lore, Gnats, Humidity, and Murder, set in rural Georgia in the 70’s will educate and entertain, with suspense.




The New Grand Strategy


Book Description

The New Grand Strategy tells the story of a plan, born within the Pentagon, to recapture America’s greatness at home and abroad by elevating sustainability as our new strategic imperative. It aligns our enduring national interests of prosperity and security with a new framework that addresses pressing economic, social, and environmental issues at home, tapping into a trillion-dollar market demand for walkable communities, regenerative agriculture and resource productivity. It is an inspiring vision of what’s possible when Americans hold a collective view of the future and come together to bring it to reality. This is no idealistic pipe dream or wonky policy prescription. The story that unfolds in this book weaves together hard-nosed economic analysis, a clear-eyed study of demographic and societal shifts, the realities of climate change and resource scarcity, a risk-based assessment of America’s challenges and opportunities, and on-the-ground reporting of how much this is already unfolding throughout the country. By rediscovering the power and discipline of grand strategy—and taking responsibility for our future—America can reimagine the American dream and once again take on “the cause of all mankind.” Released during one of America’s most divisive presidential election campaigns, The New Grand Strategy avoids the partisan rhetoric dividing our nation today. Instead of placing blame, it offers a clear, pragmatic plan that can unite Americans and launch a new era of prosperity and security.







THE AVERAGE JOES #2


Book Description

Lenny Cooper has been taken captive by The City Slicker who continues his assault on the backwoods. Colt Ford, fearing the worst, calls in the west-coast Joes, The Moonshine Bandits, to help. Colt Ford, The Lacs, Sarah Ross, Lenny Cooper and The Moonshine Bandits all appear.